Graphene nanoplatelet reinforced polyacrylonitrile/poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) nanocomposite foams: physical properties and ion detoxification

This study reports on novel polyacrylonitrile/poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PAN/PVDF-HFP) blend and polyacrylonitrile/poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene)/graphene nanoplatelet (PAN/PVDF-HFP/GNP) nanocomposite foams. PAN/PVDF-HFP/GNP 0.5 Foam with 0.5 wt.% nanofiller showed compression strength, modulus, and foam density of 55.7 MPa, 30.2 GPa, and 0.7 mgcm−3, respectively. Increase in nanofiller loading upto 5 wt.% improved the compression strength, modulus, and foam density as 70.9 MPa, 40.9 GPa, and 1.7 mgcm−3, respectively. High GNP reinforcement also enhanced the initial weight loss and maximum decomposition temperature of nanocomposite foam to 564 and 621ºC, respectively. Water absorption capacity of 5 wt.% nanocomposite foam was 88% higher than the pristine foam owing to the hydrophilic nature of nanofiller. Novel foams have also been tested for the removal of toxic Pb2+ ions and PAN/PVDF-HFP/GNP 5 Foam depicted much higher metal ion removal capacity (174 mg/g) and efficiency (99%) than that of pristine foam having removal capacity and efficiency of 90 mg/g and 50%. © 2018, © 2018 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.